My Davidson | A Student-to-Student Blog Living at Davidson: A Guide to Our Residential Community
March 30, 2026
About the Authors
Ana Smith ’28 is a Communication Studies major from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Outside of the classroom, she is involved with Davidson College Cheer Team and Rusk Eating House.
Brooke Rascoe ’26 (she/her) is an Art History major with a Communication Studies minor from Atlanta, Georgia. Outside of the classroom, she is involved with Connor Eating House and WALT Studio Radio.
Moving to college is a big deal, and if you’re anything like we were before our freshman years, you’re wondering where you’re going to be hanging out with friends and finishing that paper late at night. At Davidson, our residence halls aren’t just buildings–they are central to our way of life.
Freshman year, your hallmates become some of your first friends, and the Residence Life Office offers a thorough survey in order to best pair you with a roommate. This typically makes for an easy transition into the college living experience.
The First Year Experience
Your first year is all about community. These halls feature communal lounges (perfect for getting to know the people in your dorm) and are located right next to the dining hall.
Belk Hall
Belk Hall is one of the central first-year residence halls, bringing together a large portion of the freshman class in one shared space. The bottom floor through the third floor is home to first-year students, creating an active and social environment, while the fourth floor houses upperclassmen.
Little Hall
Little Hall offers a quieter and more intimate living environment. Its size allows residents to become familiar with one another quickly, creating a comfortable and close-knit atmosphere throughout the building.
Richardson Hall
Richardson is a four-floor, mixed-gender residence hall that offers a more connected living environment. Its size makes it easy for residents to recognize familiar faces and form strong relationships within the building.
The best part of living in Richardson was how naturally you get to know everyone—it created a really special sense of community.
Watts Hall
Watts Hall’s layout creates a comfortable atmosphere where residents can easily get to know one another, fostering a strong sense of community throughout the building.
The Sweet Spot: Sophomore & Junior Living
As you transition from the first year to sophomore and junior year, housing features more privacy and independence through both hall and suite-style living. With the option to select your hall and room, you can create a space that feels like home!
Sentelle Hall
Sentelle is a five-floor residence hall located on Dorm Row, housing up to 104 students in doubles. Each floor in Sentelle has a large TV lounge and common bathrooms.
Duke Hall
Duke Hall offers suite-style living that makes it easy to feel right at home. Just steps from the Union, it’s perfectly located for everything campus has to offer. And there is a rooftop balcony, great for pictures and hanging out with friends.
Cannon Hall
Housing a variety of underclassmen, Cannon Hall offers easy walking access to Chambers Building and other academic spaces, making it an ideal choice for friends looking to live together from their first year through their sophomore year.
Chidsey Hall
Colloquially called “New Dorm,” Chidsey is divided into North and South buildings. Chidsey South has five floors and Chidsey North has four floors. They feature double rooms with in-room sinks, saving you on trips to the communal bathroom.
Akers, Irwin & Knox Halls
In the northwest corner of campus, Irwin, Akers, and Knox Halls (vernacularly recognized as IAK) are home to a variety of students ranging from sophomores to seniors. These buildings house 87 students in 55 single-occupancy rooms and 16 double-occupancy rooms.
Preparing for Life After Davidson: Senior Apartments
Davidson's senior apartments offer full kitchens and private bedrooms, making for the perfect transition to real-world living after college. Located down the hill, they keep you right in the middle of campus social life.
Martin Court
Martin Court is home to the beloved senior apartments, primarily occupied by upperclassmen. Every apartment has four bedrooms, apart from Armfield which has five bedrooms per apartment. Apartment-style housing options include communal living rooms, kitchens, and bathroom spaces.
My favorite part about living in Martin Court is passing friendly faces every time I leave my apartment. There is almost a 100% chance you will find a classmate or friend on your walk up the hill.
Tomlinson Hall
Affectionately known as "Tommy" by students, this suite-style accommodation is the perfect in-between for sophomores, juniors and seniors students seeking a more streamlined living experience, with fewer expectations around shared upkeep and maintenance.
